Antonio McDyess scored 20 points and grabbed 10 rebounds as the
Phoenix Suns nearly blew an 18-point lead before posting a
111-99 victory over the New Jersey Nets.

Jason Kidd added 16 points for the Suns, who set an America West
Arena record by going 25-of-25 from the free throw line. Phoenix
had seven players in double figures in improving to 8-2 for the
first time since 1993-94.

"I'm not surprised at the record, I'm surprised at the two
losses we had," Phoenix forward Danny Manning said. "After
looking at the schedule at the beginning of the year, 8-2 was
where a lot of us would put oursevles. The two losses really
stand out because they were terrible showings on our part."

Sam Cassell scored 24 points and Kerry Kittles and Chris Gatling
added 17 apiece for the Nets, who have dropped five straight
games in Phoenix and 10 of the last 12 meetings with the Suns.

Phoenix raced to a 16-point halftime lead and matched its
largest lead at 70-52 on Kidd's layup with 7:57 left in the
third quarter. But Cassell, who was 0-of-9 from the field in
the first half, brought the Nets back. New Jersey used a 21-4
burst, including 13 straight points, to get within 74-73 with
3:39 remaining in the quarter. Cassell scored 16 points on
8-of-11 shooting in the period.

But Phoenix established some breathing room by closing the
quarter on a 10-4 run. Steve Nash provided a spark with five
points, helping the Suns carry an 86-79 lead into the fourth
quarter.

"I thought Nash had a couple of huge baskets and McDyess hit a
couple of big ones down the stretch," Phoenix coach Danny Ainge
said. "We had good balance out of a lot of guys offensively and
I thought if we could stay close on the boards that was the key
to us winning the game."

The Nets sliced the deficit to 92-87 on a basket by Kendall Gill
with 8:02 to play. But Mark Bryant hit a jumper and Kidd
converted a three-point play to give the Suns a 97-87 cushion
with 6:38 to go. New Jersey got no closer than seven the rest
of the way.

"We made a valiant effort out there," Cassell said. "The first
half I couldn't hit the side of a barn. I think my
concentration level just wasnt't there in the first half. The
second half, I just concentrated and hit the shots I knew I was
gonna make."

Rex Chapman scored 12 of his 14 points in the first quarter,
helping Phoenix open a 29-18 lead. New Jersey closed within
31-24 with 8:45 left in the second quarter before Nash and
Manning combined for nine points in a 13-4 burst that gave the
Suns a 44-28 lead.

Manning, a nine-year veteran, scored his 10,000th point in the
run. The Suns extended the lead to 50-32 on a dunk by McDyess
with 2:24 remaining before settling for a 58-42 halftime lead.

Manning finished with 14 points and Kevin Johnson and Bryant had
10 apiece for the Suns, who shot 55 percent (41-of-75) from the
field. Johnson was 6-of-6 from the line and Cliff Robinson was
5-of-5.